Electroplating dispenser



Se t. 11, 1962 s. s. Dl MAGGIO 3,053,747

ELECTROPLATING DISPENSER Filed Feb. 29, 1960 2 Sheet-Sheet 1 Samara/.51 01mm IINVENTOR. L BY imaoi iu Sept. 11, 1962 s. S. Di MAGGIO ELECTROPLATING DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 29, 1960 w. w W 0 s d w &

INVENTOR.

BY all United States Patent Ofifice 7 3,053,747 Patented Sept. 11, 1962 3,053,747 ELECTROPLATING DISPENSER Samuel S. Di Maggio, 3515 May St., Silver Spring, Md. Filed Feb. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 11,877 4 Claims. (Cl. 204-224) This invention relates to electroplating equipment and more particularly to a comparatively inexpensive, portable electroplating dispenser.

An object of the invention is to provide a portable electroplating device from which an electrolyte laden with particles of an anode, may be deposited on a workpiece which functions as a cathode and on which the particles of metal adhere.

The art of electro-deposition of metals is very old and well known. The technique has been commercially and industrially used extensively for original plating and for repair of plated surfaces.

However, there is a definite need for an inexpensive, portable device for both original and repair work, and dispensers in accordance with the invention fulfils this need.

- Briefly, a dispenser in accordance with the invention has an electrolyte together with an anode, and an electrical conductor for applying an electrical potential to the electrolyte. By connecting the workpiece in the electrical circuit, the workpiece becomes the cathode, and electroplating may commence.

Since one of the achievements of the invention is found in the low cost of production and truly portable nature of the device, and since the device definitely contemplates discharge of the electrolyte, a pressure or aerosol container is ideally suited as the receptacle for the electrolyte and anode. Therefore, the principal forms of the invention have pressure containers from which the electrolyte is discharged, for instance sprayed.

The electrolyte may be sprayed directly on the workpiece or applied in'some other way. It has been found that wiping the electrolyte on the workpiece provides a more satisfactory finish, especially when the wiper is in the form of a sponge or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide inexpensive, portable electroplating dispensers which are easily used in many environments and for many purposes. It is emphasized that the electroplating dispenser is practical Whereas, other previous proposals for electroplating have used different principles of application or have been stationary industrial type plating equipment or have for one reason or another, been impractical.

The technique which shall be more fully discussed subsequently, may be used for electroplating with all common platingmetals e.g. nickel, copper, chromium, cadmium, zinc, etc. by packaging the containers with the proper electrolyte and, of course, the correct anode.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a typical use of a dispenser in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the wiring for an application such as in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a wiring diagram showing that the source of electrical potential may be rectified A.C.

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of a typical pressure container in accordance with the invention, parts shown in section to illustrate otherwise obscure detail.

FIGURE 5 is a View similar to FIGURE 4 but showing a modification of the anode.

FIGURE 6 is a View similar to FIGURES 4 and 5 but showing a further modification.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one of the principal methods of application of electrolyte and anode material to a workpiece.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 7.

In the accompanying drawings there is an illustration of a motor vehicle 10 having a front bumper 12. The plated surface on the bumper is being repaired by the use of dispenser 14 which may be constructed as shown in FIGURE 4, 5 or 6 or constructed in other ways within the contemplation of the invention. Further, FIGURE 1 is a mere diagrammatic view showing only one possible use of dispenser 14, it being clearly understood that there are numerous other uses for both repair and original plating.

FIGURE 2 shows an electrical circuit 16 which has battery 18 connected to dispenser 14 and a conductor 20 attached to bumper 12. The conductor 20 in the case of a use such as shown in FIGURE 1 would be the conductive path in the motor vehicle construction itself extending from battery 18 to bumper 12.

Electrical circuit 24 in FIGURE 3 includes dispenser 14, bumper 12 or some other object, together with conductors 26 and 28 connected respectively with the container of dispenser 14 and with the workpiece. The conductors 26 and 28 are attached to the output terminals of rectifier 30, and the rectifier is connected across A.C. lines 32. The purpose of FIGURE 3 is merely to show that rectified A.C. may be used in place of DC.

One of the main features of the invention is found in the packaging of an electrolyte and anode in such a manner that direct current may be impressed on the electrolyte and the electrolyte discharged from the container onto the workpiece. Therefore, typical dispenser 34 (FIGURE 4) is composed of a pressure container 36 having a discharge port and nozzle 38 and valve including a valve operator 40. The container itself is conventional as far as the mechanism, configuration of the con-' tainer is concerned and the dip tube 42 which extends into the container to a point near the bottom thereof and to the nozzle 38 by Way of the valve mechanism.-

' Such containers are used to dispense numerous substances having their own integrity. However, the container 36 discharges a substance which requires an external cathode for completing the desired operation. No other pressure container plus contents are known to function in this way.

The electrolyte 44 is chosen as the correct electrolyte for the metal which is to be plated. A few possible metals have been mentioned, and a few electrodes to be used therewith Would be NiSO or NCl or H Bo +H O or CrO +H SO or CuSO FIGURE 4 has the anode 46 in the form of plating on the inner surface of the side Wall 37 of container 26, and on the bottom Wall 39 of the same container. Instead of plating, the anode may be a sleeve in the container. Electrical potential is applied to the anode by way of a conductor 5t attached to a contact 52 in the bottom wall 39 of the container, although this is merely an optional way of achieving this purpose. Further, even though a plastic container 34 is shown, other materials may be used.

A container 53 of dispenser 54 shown in FIGURE 5 distinguishes from the container of FIGURE 4 only in the shape of the anode 56. The anode in dispenser 54 is in the form of a ring which seats on the bottom of the container. It is explicitly pointed out that other geometrical shapes of the anode may be resorted to, such as a ball and many others.

Dispenser 58 shown in FIGURE 6 is somewhat more elaborate and is admirably well suited for chromium plating. The container 60 has double side walls 62 and 64 with a jacket 66 therebetween. A resistance heater 68 which may merely be painted and printed on the exterior of wall 64 and located in jacket 66 may be used for heating the electrolyte. Such heaters are commercially available, but it is to be understood that the invention contemplates any type of suitable electric resistance heater. Arbitrarily, anode 70 is the same as anode 46 or essentially so. Heater 68 being an electrical heater, has leads 72 and 74 attached thereto, one of which may be secured to contact 52 and the other secured to the side of the electrical source opposite to that from which conductor 50 is secured.

Nozzle 38 may be used directly to spray the electrolyte containing particles of the anode onto the workpiece for electro-depositing, provided that the workpiece is properly connected in the electrical circuit of the dispenser. To do this the workpiece is attached to one side of the electrical source and the electrolyte connected to the other side thereof, for instance by way of conductor 50. Circuit completion is obtained through the electrolyte with anode particles and through the spray issuing from nozzle 38 to the workpiece.

Alternatively, and in some instances more desirably, attachment 76 may be used on the nozzle for the purpose of spreading the electrolyte onto the workpiece. Attachment 76 is in the form of a sponge 78 which is either natural or synthetic, supported by a suitable holder 80, for instance a small case 82 with a nut 84 fixed thereto and threaded onto the end of the nozzle 38. The sponge 78 is adhered either frictionally or mechanically to the interior of the small case 80. The surface of the sponge becomes a wiper in the use of the attachment 76. An air brush or pad of some other type may be used in place of the sponge 78 of attachment 76 or in place of the entire attachment 76.

The portable nature of the dispenser has been emphasized herein. The dispenser contains an electrolyte and an anode together with means for establishing the necessary electrical circuit as described above, and further means :for discharging the electrolyte under pressure. The pressure containers illustrated are ideal. However, squeeze i.e. flexible side wall plastic bottles may be used as the container although results therewith have not proved as satisfactory as results achieved with pressure containers. Further, there are many instances wherein the workpiece does not have a built-in ground path as shown in FIGURE 1. Therefore, an additional wire would be used to connect the workpiece to one side of the source of electrical potential. Rectifier 30 may be in the form of a plug-in attachment so that the rectifier of a proper output would be available to the customer with the dispenser.

Industrial and comparatively large scale commercial applications of the principles of the invention preferably make use of an air compressor to pressurize the interior of of tank type container containing electrolyte and an anode. The discharge port of the tank, which may not conventionally be lifted, may have a hose connected with it, and a nozzle and/or pad at the outer end of the hose. The valve could be located at the nozzle or at some other place in the hose or at the tank. The electrical circuit would be the same as for the more easily handled forms of the dispenser. In essence, this form is the same as the others, the only difference being that it has a higher capacity and is better suited for heavy commercial and industrial use.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A device useful in forming a metallic coating film on parts comprising, a pressure sealed container having walls made of electrically non-conductive material adapted to be grasped and manipulated by an operator, an anode in the container, a conductive mixture of electrolyte and gas under pressure disposed in said container, selectively controlled valve means mounted on the container for releasing of said pressurized conductive mixture therefrom, discharge nozzle means connected to said valve means for discharge of said conductive mixture in mist form in response to release of the mixture by the valve means and,

means for conducting electrical current to said anode and through the conductive mixture being discharged onto a part for deposit of metallic film thereon, said container including an electrically conductive closed bottom with which said anode is in contact for passage of current thereto.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said anode is in the form of a thin metallic sleeve disposed within the container for complete surface exposure to the conductive mixture therein.

3. The combination of claim 2, including resistance 'heating means on which the anode is mounted for heat transfer to the conductive mixture to elevate the temperature of the electrolyte.

4. The combination of claim 1, including resistance heating means on which the anode is mounted for heat transfer to the conductive mixture to elevate the temperature of the electrolyte.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 828,814 Cunningham Aug. 14, 1906 1,416,929 Bailey May 23, 1922 1,739,657 Shermitz Dec. 17, 1929 2,540,602 Thomas et al Feb. 6, 1951 2,773,825 NewCombe Dec. 11, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 17,837 Great Britain July 29, 1897 469,437 Great Britain July 26, 1937 147,001 Austria Sept. 25, 1936 

1. A DEVICE USEFUL IN FORMING A METALLIC COATING FILM ON PARTS COMPRISING, A PRESSURE SEALED CONTAINER HAVING WALLS MADE OF ELECTRICALLY NON-CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL ADAPTED TO BE GRASPED AND MANIPULATED BY AN OPERATOR, AN ANODE IN THE CONTAINER, A CONDUCTIVE MIXTURE OF ELECTROLYTE AND GAS UNDER PRESSURE DISPOSED IN SAID CONTAINER FOR RELEASTROLLED VALVE MEANS MOUNTED ON THE CONTAINER FOR RELEASING OF SAID PRESSURIZED CONDUCTIVE MIXTURE THEREFROM, DISCHARGE NOZZLE MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID VALVE MEANS FOR DISCHARGE OF SAID CONDUCTIVE MIXTURE IN MIST IN RESPONSE TO RELEASE OF THE MIXTURE BY THE VALVE MEANS AND, MEANS FOR CONDUCTING ELECTRICAL CURRENT TO SAID ANODE AND THROUGH THE CONDUCTIVE MIXTURE BEING DISCHARGED ONTO A PART FOR DEPOSIT OF METALLIC FILM THEREON, SAID CONTAINER 